CLEAR (Committee Leadership and Enhanced Accountability for Resilience) Defense Production Act of 2025
The CLEAR Defense Production Act of 2025 would reform how the Defense Production Act (DPA) is governed and overseen, and add a centralized transparency registry for DPA uses. It creates a strengthened, Commerce-led DPA Committee with a senior executive service chair who reports to the Secretary of Commerce, broadens reporting and coordination requirements, and requires a Comptroller General review within two years. In addition, it requires the establishment of a secure DPA Registry to track when and how DPA authorities are used by federal agencies, including public-facing access options with appropriate protections for national security. The overall aim is to improve accountability, coordination, and transparency in the use of DPA authorities.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and leadership of the DPA Committee: The Chairperson must be a senior, full-time Department of Commerce SES employee, reporting directly to the Secretary of Commerce, with duties to lead the Committee and ensure information flow about meetings and use of DPA authorities.
- 2Expanded authority scope and coordination: The bill broadens the committee’s focus beyond “priorities and allocations” to the “authorities provided under this Act” and requires coordinated staffing, funding requests, and designated cross-agency coordinators from each department/agency.
- 3Enhanced oversight and reporting: The Committee must conduct reviews of each agency’s use of DPA authorities and make recommendations for more effective use consistent with national policy; Congress receives a formal briefing through updated reporting.
- 4Comptroller General review: Within two years, the GAO must report on coordination, information flow to committee members, and areas needing additional attention or improvement in coordination and planning.
- 5DPA Registry (new Sec. 724): A secure, electronic database established within one year to record uses of DPA authorities (back to one year before enactment), including why and how each use supported national defense objectives, with ongoing quarterly updates by agency heads.